Spike



Sept. 7,1926.

B. WILLET ET AL SPIKE Original Filed April 30. 1924 .BeizWzZ/ez Z015 ifhdaaz' 2am Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT orFicE,"

BEN WILLET AND WALTER MADDOX, OF McI-IENRY, KENTUCKY; SAID \VILLET AS- SIGNOR OF HIS ENTIRE RIGHT TO B. C. HOCKER, OF MCI-IENRY KENTUCKY.

SPIKE.

Application filed April 30, 1924, serial No. 710,050. Renewed March 31, 1926.

An object of this invention is the provi sion of a railway spike having a wedge rib below its head on its rear face which provides a cutting element that will bunch the wood fibres against the rib when the spike is driven into a tie or the like and likewise bunch the fibres in a manner (to bunch the wood fibres against the outer face of the shank of the spike in a manner to force the head of the spike into better rail engagement.

A still further object is the production of a spike of such construction that amaterial saving of metal will be afforded.

T he drawing which accompanies and forms part of this application, illustrates the improvement.

In the drawing t Figure 1 is a perspective View of our im proved spike. I

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 4- is a fragmentary rear elevation thereof.

Figure 5 is a sectional view onthe line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is I a view showing the spike driven into a tie and engaging a rail.

The shank l of our improved spike has its outer end pointed in the usual manner. Formed on the shank is the laterally extending rail engaging lip 2 which has its lower wall cut at the desired inclination. Formed on the shank and on the lip there is the head 3 of the improvement. Thehead ex tends laterally beyond the lip 2 and the shank 1, the lip 2 and the shankbeing of the same thicknessn By reference to the drawings it will be noted that the head gradually increases'in thickness from the inner to the outer end thereof, and also that the head has its top surface rounded both transversely and longitudinally.

By reference to Figure 6 it will be seen that the lip 2 snugly contacts with thebase flange of a rail the widenedhead 3 of the spike being disposed a considerable distance above the said flange of the rail. The wid-' ened head affords a good mark when the spike 18 130 be driven into the tie 5 and likewise the shoulders on the under face of the head permit of the ready insertion of a 1 pinch bar between. the said shoulders vand the base flange of the rail so that the spike can be easily withdrawn from the tie.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the head 8 extends a suitable distance beyond the outer face of the shank and extending centrally from the end of. this portion of the head there is a. downwardly directed rib 6. The rib is, of course, integral with the head and shankand terminates a suitable distance from the pointed i The rib has its sidesend of said-shank. tapered inwardly at points approximately central with respect to the length of said rib .to a pointed end and its face, likewise tapered inwardly from its junction with the head of the spike to the said end of the rib. The wedge-like rib; whenthe spike is forced into the tie, causes the bunching of the wood severed thereby against the sides and outer face of said rib so that liability of the spike working loose or being accidentally removed from the tie is effectively overcome.

Having described the invention, we claim A railway spike having a rearwardly eX- tending head and a wedge rib formed on.

the outer face of the shank and centrally on the head extensiony'said wedge ribhaving its outer face tapered inwardly throughout its length and its sides likewise tapered inwardly from points approximately central with respect to the length of the rib'to the pointed end of the said wedge rib, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereoffwe affix'our signatures.

v BEN WILL'ET.

I p w. n. MADDOX, 

